The Power of “No” While Studying for the GMAT

Heard the phrase “out of sight, out of mind”? A big part of maintaining a high level of motivation while studying for the GMAT is not allowing yourself to take too many days off. Of course, taking a day off here or there is no problem. However, don’t allow one day off to turn into two, and two to turn into four, and so on.

To ensure that the GMAT does not become a distant memory, you need to prioritize things in your life and make frequent use of the simple answer of “no.” While you are preparing for the GMAT, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to do things other than study. If you’re not careful, those opportunities can start piling up fast, and before you know it, your study momentum will be gone.

Here are some common scenarios, and how you should respond to them:

• Happy hour on Thursday: “Thanks, but no thanks. I need to study for my GMAT.”
  
  Brunch on Sunday: “Sounds yummy, but I need to study for my GMAT.”
  
  Weekend road trip: “Some other time. I need to study for my GMAT.”
  
  Binge-watching Netflix: “Nope! I need to study for my GMAT.”
  
  Spontaneous movie night: “Tempting, but I need to study for my GMAT.”
  
  Video game marathon: “I'll save that for after I crush the GMAT.”

Remember, the fewer nonessential and non-GMAT-related activities you partake in, the more time you’ll have for your GMAT studying. Thus, the smaller the chance you’ll have of losing motivation. Once you knock the GMAT out of the park, you’ll have plenty of time for dining out or ski trips — and you’ll enjoy them all the more knowing you stayed disciplined and got the job done.

Reach out to me with any questions about your GMAT prep. Happy studying!
Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep